Sundance Report #5 – Art And Copy

EMPIRE AVENUE, PARK CITY

Though the weather is far warmer than last year’s balmy 5 degree highs, it’s still most definitely winter outside in Park City. Thus I’m quite glad to be back in front of a nice, warm fire after returning from the world premier screening of “Art & Copy.” Here’s a documentary film that’s really masterfully put together. It at once informs while still being incredibly entertaining and even, dare I say it, uplifting. The film centers on the world of advertising, specifically the huge creative revolution that occurred in the 1960s and what ended up coming out of that. It’s a “celebration” of the top advertising creatives (words of Doug Pray, the film’s director). Sure, there’s a slight history lesson hidden between the pages, but really it’s about what creative advertising attempts to accomplish and how that process has formed over the years. Various advertising luminaries, including Lee Clow, George Lois, Hal Riney and Dan Wieden, present their own views of how campaigns like “Got Milk,” Nike’s “Just Do It,” and the famous Apple “1984 won’t be like 1984″ came into being and how, in many cases, they almost didn’t even make it to market. Portions get a bit long in the tooth, but overall it’s quite an enjoyable ride. Masterfully directed and edited, this doc really stands out in my eyes as a shining example of what documentary filmmaking should be. And for anyone who works or aspires to be in a creative field, this film definitely leaves you excited about possibility.

“Art & Copy” was preceeded by a short film entitled “The Archive,” a seven-minute documentary focused on Paul Mawhinney, the owner of the world’s largest collection of records. Numbering over two and a half million, the vast majority of his collection can’t even be purchased anymore. Due to health issues and a struggling record industry Paul is being forced to sell his collection. It’s quite a fascinating window on an individual, as well as on the state of phonographic records in general. Very well directed and edited… I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we find director Sean Dunne doing more great cinematic things in the near future.

You can watch the entire documentary on Vimeo at www.vimeo.com/1546186

I’m going to try and get in some downtime tonight before launching into tomorrow. I’ve got five scheduled screenings starting with the 9am premier of Antoine Fuqua’s newest film, “Brooklyn’s Finest” with Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes. Catch you all on the flipside.

~Gunther